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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

David Roth

Javier Baez does a double thumbs-down gesture, apparently directed at Mets fans, after hitting a home run on Sunday against the Nationals.

The New York Mets Must Win More Games To Humiliate And Punish Their Faithless Fans

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Here Is Just One More Reason Why Pedro Martinez Rules

Lauren Theisen

For One Night, The Orioles Were Better Than Shohei Ohtani

It Sucks That The Padres Are Getting Crushed This Bad

Julio Rodriguez, seen here hitting a homer against a much more intimidating pitch than the one described in this post, in the Tokyo Olympics.

This Is What Happens When One Of Baseball’s Best Prospects Is Served A Meatball By A Position Player

Josiah Gray of the Washington Nationals pitches in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Josiah Gray Makes The Gutted Nationals Worth Watching

Alex Dickerson and Brandon Crawford congratulate each other at home plate, presumably for being talked about on this episode of The Distraction.

Podcasts

These Damn Giants And The Best Imaginary Team In The Canadian Football League, With Ray Ratto

GunkWatch: Watch Out For Flying Belts!

Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins in the dugout after a loss to the Detroit Tigers.

The Baltimore Orioles Are In The Waiting Room

Barry Petchesky

DYERSVILLE, IOWA - AUGUST 12: Members of the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees take the field prior to a game at the Field of Dreams on August 12, 2021 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

MLB Likes What It Sees When It Looks Backward

Ray Ratto

A picture taken on August 22, 2012 in Godewaersvelde, northern France shows a corn field. AFP PHOTO PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/GettyImages)

Put Arnold Rothstein In The Hall Of Fame

Go Away, Rain!

Tom Ley

So Much For That Magical Red Sox Season

The Weird Baseball Is Upon Us

Michael Brantley watches as a bat girl removes an inflatable trash can

I Guess Dodgers Fans Are Still Mad

We Must Find And Destroy This Ageless, Nationals-Hating Critter

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 11: Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto watches batting practice before a game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 11, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. The Rangers won the game 2-1 in eleven innings. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Jerry Dipoto Has Touched The Ultimate

Things Somehow Got Worse For The Yankees

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

Guardians of Traffic photo in 1932, mixed with Cleveland Guardians logo now

Cleveland Guardians Is A Fine Name And The Backstory Is Even Better

Eric Haase avoids a high and inside pitch

HBPs Are Out Of Control

As A Serial Mangler Of Over-Easy Eggs, I Deeply Relate To This Cussing Pitcher

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Has Perfect Timing

The Home Run Derby Had Such Good Vibes

A collage of Babe Ruth headlines from newspapers at the time

History

101 Years Ago, Babe Ruth’s Career Could Have Ended In A Car Crash In Wawa, Pennsylvania

Rockies pitcher Jon Gray and Rockies shortstop Trevor Story high-five in a game against the Phillies